srb813@csc.anu.oz (06/27/90)
In article <1982@sparko.gwu.edu>, viraf@seas.gwu.edu (Viraf Bankwalla) writes: > Hi, > > I was wondering what the best way to share a LW between macs and PC's > are. I am aware that there are localtalk cards for the PC, could > someone please recommend some of them. Is there a better alternative ? > > Thanks > > viraf bankwalla > viraf@seas.gwu.edu > uunet!gwusun!viraf Putting the PCs onto AppleTalk is the way to go since then the Macs to get the LaserWriters for free. I use TOPS/DOS v3.0 with TOPS FlashCards to get the PCs talking to the LaserWriters (and each other). TOPS is a fine product except for DOS's major weakness ... memory. TOPS is memory-hungry. If you have extended memory then you haven't got a problem (384K is OK, but I would recommend 1MB of extended memory). If you're stuck with 640K and can't afford to buy an extended memory board (like the mob I'm doing a contract for) then you definitely do have a problem. You (like me) will be minimally configuring everything in sight, or loading and unloading modules, or trying to convince people (or yourself) to buy some extended memory. The other alternative is AppleTalk/PC. v2.1 runs on a FlashCard (or so I am told) which is good because FlashCards are cheaper (at least in Australia they are :-) ). The disadvantage is that you must have an AppleShare server to share files. This can only be a Macintosh or a host (a Unix box or a VAX). If you're not sharing files between the PCs then who cares? But since you've got a network and all this great software you may as well use all of it! Steven Ball, Department of Computer Science, ANU E-mail: steve@anucsd.anu.oz.au Ph. (06) 2495147 Snail-mail: GPO Box 4, CANBERRA CITY ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!
shoemake@Apple.COM (Mike Shoemaker) (06/27/90)
srb813@csc.anu.oz writes: >In article <1982@sparko.gwu.edu>, viraf@seas.gwu.edu (Viraf Bankwalla) writes: >> Hi, >> >> I was wondering what the best way to share a LW between macs and PC's >> are. I am aware that there are localtalk cards for the PC, could >> someone please recommend some of them. Is there a better alternative ? >> >Putting the PCs onto AppleTalk is the way to go since then the Macs to get >the LaserWriters for free. >The other alternative is AppleTalk/PC. v2.1 runs on a FlashCard (or so I >am told) which is good because FlashCards are cheaper (at least in >Australia they are :-) ). The disadvantage is that you must have an >AppleShare server to share files. This can only be a Macintosh or a host >(a Unix box or a VAX). If you're not sharing files between the PCs then who >cares? But since you've got a network and all this great software you may >as well use all of it! >Steven Ball, Department of Computer Science, ANU >E-mail: steve@anucsd.anu.oz.au Ph. (06) 2495147 >Snail-mail: GPO Box 4, CANBERRA CITY ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA > He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy! AppleShare PC 2.0.x does not ship with drivers for the FlashCard. I'm not aware of any 3rd party drivers for that card. AppleShare PC 2.0.x ships with drivers for Apple's LocalTalk PC card (standard bus) DayStar Digital's LT/PC 200 LocalTalk cards (Both std and Microchannel) 3Com EtherLink MC (Microchannel) 3Com EtherLink II (3C503) (Std bus) IBM's 4-MBit TokenRing cards (Both Std and Microchannel) It is possible to write drivers (called MLID's) -- Apple's APDA organization has the documentation on the interfaces and a shell driver (on disk) that you can 'fill in the blanks' for the card specific stuff and create a driver pretty quickly. We validated the sample driver by using it to create the DayStar driver. It took two evenings after work to do. Ethernet and TokenRing are more difficult (Multicast table maintenance and source routing). By the way, DayStar also ships their cards with software to print to LaserWriters and access AFP compatible file servers. Mike Shoemaker Network Connectivity Development Apple Computer, Inc.